Crusade vs dynasties launched

MANILA, Philippines - Candidates for senator were dared to sign a covenant committing themselves to eliminating political dynasties should they win.

Hurling the challenge was Krusada Kontra Dynasty (Kontra), a movement launched yesterday.

In convening Kontra, independent senatorial candidate Ricardo Penson said true democracy cannot be achieved without social and political equality.

 “I urge and encourage other senatorial candidates to sign the same covenant with me,” he said. “Through this covenant, we will commit to pursue anti-political dynasty legislation.”

Penson said political dynasty is “the root of our country’s democratic evils,” and putting a stop to it would be on top of his platform of government.

“Political dynasties are involved in unprincipled party switching or turn-coatism for expediency, further weakening our political parties (as) mere vehicles to the ambitions of powerful political families,” he said.

Penson said that political dynasties “provide a clout to amass more wealth to secure enduring political power wherein such wealth coupled with traditional politics of patronage gives its members, no matter how unqualified, uncontestable edge.”

“Dynasties continue hegemony of feudal politics and continued disenfranchisement of a vast marginalized majority in our country, making representation ever more elusive,” he said.